Albies slam, Freeman HR lift Braves over Mets 8-2

The Atlanta Braves were back home after their west coast road trip, and took care of business in the opening series against the Mets.

Author:
WMAZ

Published:
12:54 AM EDT June 13, 2018

Updated:
12:54 AM EDT June 13, 2018

ATLANTA (AP) - Ozzie Albies hit a grand slam and Freddie Freeman homered during a six-run sixth inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the reeling New York Mets 8-2 on Tuesday night.

Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six, but left the game after batting in the fifth. The team said he has triceps tightness.

Ender Inciarte added a pair of RBI singles to help Atlanta shake a rough West Coast trip, when it lost four of six. The Braves moved ahead of Washington for first in the NL East by beating a Mets team that has lost nine of 10 and 16 of 20

The Braves led 1-0 in the fourth on Inciarte's RBI single. New York went up 2-1 in the sixth on Jay Bruce's two-run ground-rule double, but that was it for the Mets, who have scored 10 runs in their last 78 innings.

Freeman's 13th homer in the bottom half of the inning tied it, and Inciarte's single put the Braves ahead for good. A walk to pinch-hitter Preston Tucker loaded the bases and chased starter Zack Wheeler (2-5), and Albies cleared the bases with his 16th homer, coming off Paul Sewald, for a 7-2 lead.

Albies is the first player 21 or younger to hit multiple grand slams in a season since Adrian Beltre hit two for the Dodgers in 2000. He's the second Braves second baseman with two grand slams in a season, joining Davey Johnson in 1973.

Wheeler allowed eight hits, six runs, four walks and struck out two in 5 2/3 innings.

Shane Carle (4-1) faced just one batter to get the win. Devin Mesoraco grounded sharply to third baseman Johan Camargo, who lunged to his right to tag Asdrubal Cabrera and made a low throw that Freeman dug out at first for a double play.

Foltynewicz, who pitched his first career complete game in his last home start, hit the first batter Tuesday before retiring 13 straight. Mesoraco and Dominic Smith each singled with one out in the top of the fifth, but Foltynewicz escaped trouble with a pair of popups.

Nick Markakis' RBI double in the seventh made it 8-2.

TAKE A SEAT

Mickey Callaway was ejected for the first time as Mets manager after arguing with home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater in the top of the sixth. Brandon Nimmo was hit by Jesse Biddle's pitch on his elbow, but Scheurwater ruled he did not attempt to get out of the way and declined to award Nimmo first base. Callaway was thrown out while standing near the right-hand side of the batter's box.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Cabrera was back in the lineup, going 0 for 4 after leaving Sunday's win over the Yankees in the third inning with left hamstring tightness. Callaway said he will likely give Cabrera an off day Wednesday.

Braves: LF Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting off a tee, swinging in the batting cage and running, but has yet to resume what manager vigorous baseball activities. It will be Thursday, at the earliest, before the 20-year-old begins a rehab assignment. Acuna, sidelined 14 games with a left ACL sprain and bruises to his left knee and lower back, said through a translator that he feels no pain when he runs, swings and throws.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (4-1, 1.57 ERA) leads the majors since April 21 with a 0.81 ERA - a span of nine starts and 55 1/3 innings - but New York has lost his past four outings. He is 5-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 14 career starts against Atlanta.

Braves: Snitker said RHP Mike Soroka will be on a 90-pitch limit while returning from a shoulder strain that's sidelined him since May 12. Soroka made his first career start May 1, allowing six hits and one run in six innings to beat the Mets in New York.